He is the first one to step up, especially knowing he can help others through his work with the Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team or the Northeast Chapter of American Red Cross.

“I find it very fulfilling,” said Wallis. “When I finish a pillow case presentation, I am at a little bit of a high thinking someday what I taught these kids could save a life. When in a shelter situation, you are dealing with people in the worst day of their life. If you can get a smile out of them you come out with a little high.

"I like to feel good when I am done.”

Wallis joined CERT when it started in 2008. Four years later, he joined the Red Cross. It is not uncommon for him to change hats between the organizations when responding to a situation.

“Red Cross knows that in Outagamie County I am CERT first,” he said. “When it is up and running, and we have enough help, I will change hats and start rounding up the clients for Red Cross.”

Wallis retired in 1994 after years in the heating industry. He tried a couple of other jobs, including working at his wife’s business, Roxanne’s Doll Shop.

“We are very blessed people and I think once in a while we need to take time and give back,” he said. “We are always so busy making an extra dollar. Once in a while we need to take a deep breath and say thank you for everything we’ve got and see if we can help somebody else.”

Wallis is a trainer and works on special events for CERT. At the Red Cross, he is a disaster preparedness lead and helps with a pillow case project as well as a smoke detector project.

He has seen people who have lost everything.

“We do what we can to make their life a little better,” he said.

His passion is with the pillow case project, teaching third through fifth grade students about disaster preparedness.

“The pillow case is for if you have to go to a storm shelter or sheriff knocks on the door” and you have to evacuate your home right away, Wallis said. “It’s loaded with things you are going to need to have with you.”

They talk about a list, which students share with family members so they can all plan a kit with essentials like water, toothbrush, change of clothes and radio to be kept somewhere accessible.

“The pillow case project is my thing,” said Wallis. “I often say I would do it eight days a week if I could.”

Rob Olson worked part-time at the Outagamie County Emergency Management Office and met Wallis when CERT began.

“Gene, if he can help someone be prepared for any possible tragedy or emergency he tries to spread the message,” said Olson. “He is like the energizer bunny. A man with many experiences willing to share just a bit to try and help someone out.”

Linda Dums can be reached at pcfeatures@postcrescent.com

Meet the volunteers

Each Friday on the Good Neighbors page we introduce you to a volunteer in the Fox Valley. If you want to nominate a volunteer, send details to pcfeatures@postcrescent.com.